Oct. 14, 2006

Final Stats

It's a situation that every little boy dreams of: his team is playing on the road with the clock winding down, and as the backup quarterback he runs onto the field to throw a touchdown to win the game. For Alex Engram, the dream became reality as he rallied Alabama State to a 10-7 win over Prairie View.

"It was an ugly game," said ASU head coach Charles Coe. "I told Alex that we needed him to make a play, and he was able to do it."

Hornet starting quarterback T'Chelpio Woods was sidelined with a separated shoulder after a vicious hit. Redshirt freshman Jason Bruce, seeing the first action of his career, had thrown an interception after a couple of nice runs. And ASU, who had not lost to Prairie View since 1931, was trailing 7-3 in the 4th quarter. Everything - the score, the crowd and the momentum- favored Prairie View.

Then Engram came into the game with only 11 minutes remaining and on his very first play he hit Antonio "Tiger" James on a beautiful 45-yard touchdown strike and ASU held on for the win.

"We had simply played a sloppy game," Coe said. "Both teams were flat, and don't forget even with all of the players we had last year, that game was tied late. (Coach Henry) Frazier has done a good job building this program."

Although Prairie View was without its top player Arnelle Fontneot, his back up Calvin Harris (17 carries, 106 yards) and quarterback Chris Gibson (77 yards and 1 touchdown rushing, 55 yards passing) combined to forge a 7-3 lead after Gibson's 8-yard scoring run in the 3rd.

But the Panthers were their own worst enemy, and their five turnovers (4 lost fumbles and one interception) would eventually cost them the game.

After forcing an ASU punt, Julian Norman fumbled the punt and Roderick West recovered, setting up Engram's heroics.

He jogged onto the field, promptly faked a handoff to Jay Peck and found James streaking across the field for the winning score.

"I thought we'd run the ball," Engram said. "But the coaches called a pass play and I saw Tiger. I think I threw it too far, but he turned on the blazers and ran it down.

"I don't know if I've ever been that excited, and for the first time in a long time -because of the adrenaline - my shoulder didn't hurt. But then I as I ran off the field, I `high-fived' someone and it started killing me again."

The Hornet defense also did their part, forcing the Panthers to punt on their final two possessions of the game.

And when the Hornets needed Peck, the SWAC's leader in total offense from scrimmage, he delivered. After only 43 first half yards, Peck willed his way for 73 in the second half for his fifth consecutive 100-yard plus game, grinding the clock and the game away for ASU.

"We did what we had to do," Coe said. "Fortunately, we got the win and now we have a week off. Hopefully, we can get some guys well. With Woods and Engram both hurt, we've got some healing and some planning to do."

The Hornets (3-4 overall, 3-3 SWAC) will take on Alabama A & M in the Magic City Classic in Birmingham on October 28th at 3:30 p.m.